Spain says support for US tariffs will echo pandemic-era measures

OVIEDO, Spain

Spain’s government on Wednesday vowed to support industries affected by US tariffs, with the labor minister saying the response would mirror the country’s pandemic-era measures.

“We are going to do the same thing that we did during the pandemic,” Yolanda Diaz told broadcaster RNE. “The government will save the affected sectors and workers.”

Diaz added that although Spain will be less affected than other European nations, the country’s steel, aluminum, olive oil and wine sectors are likely to be hit.

Her remarks came on the morning of US President Donald Trump’s so-called “Day of Liberation,” during which he is expected to announce a new round of tariffs on countries he claims have maintained unfair trade barriers against American goods.

Diaz described the tariffs as a sign of the “weakness of the US economy,” saying Trump is turning to “threat-based politics” to divide Europe and boost American exports of fuel and weapons.

'Unjust and unjustified'

Spain’s Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo also reaffirmed support for affected industries, saying the government will continue “direct contact” with impacted businesses.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is scheduled to meet several ministers, union leaders and business representatives Wednesday evening to analyze the scope of the new tariffs.

Speaking at a conference, Cuerpo said Spain aims to reinforce its “strategic relationship” with the US but warned that the government will act in response to “unjust and unjustified” measures.

“The European Union has the tools necessary to respond … neither Europe nor Spain will be naive. We will respond,” he said.

Industry and Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu urged calm, saying Madrid was preparing “to protect all of our sectors.”

“We don’t want to escalate a trade war because everyone loses, but it’s evident that we are preparing a response,” Hereu said, according to news agency EFE. ​​​​​​​

He also rejected Trump’s narrative, saying: “Today is not a day of liberation – for us, a day of liberation would be a day to create prosperity while advancing people’s social rights.”